Bismethylenedioxy steriods



United States Parent 0 J 3,002,963 BISME'IHYLENEDIOXY STERKUDS Seymour Bernstein, New City, and John J. Brown, Pearl River, N.Y., and Robert H. Leuhard, RidgefieldPark,

N.J., assignors to American Cyanamid Company, New

York, .Y., a corporation of Maine No Drawing. Filed Sept. 12, 1960,'Ser. No. 55,143 14 Claims. (Ci. 260239.55)

This invention relates to. a method for the preparawherein R and R are members of the group consisting of hydrogen'and methyl radicals C C is amernber of the group consisting of radicals.

The starting materials in the present process can be prepared by the methods described in United States Patents 2,888,456 and 2,888,457 and as hereinafter described in the examples. The starting compounds can be, for example, 6oc-methy1-17,20;20,2l-bismethylenedioxy-l,4spregnadien-3-one; l lfi-hydroxy-17,20;20,21-bismethyl'enedioxy-1,4-pregnadien-3-one -1 1,8-hydroxy-16amethyl 17,20;20,2-1 -bismethylenedioxy-1,4-pregnadien-3- i one; 11,6 -.hydroxy .6a-methyl-17,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-l,4-pregnadien-3-one; 16u-methyl-17,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy 1,4 7 pregnadien-3 -one; 17, 20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-l,4-pregnadiene-3-one; 6a,16a-dimethy1 1 17,20;2Q,2l-bismethylenedioxy-1,4-pregnadien-3-one; 11B- hydroxy-6a,1owdimethyl-17,20;20,2l-bismethylenedioxy- 1,4-pregnadien-3-one; 17,20;20,2l-bismethylenedioxy-l, 4,9 1 1 pregn atri en- 3-one and the like.

[The novel pyrolysis of this invention isaccornplished by passing the starting 1,4-pregnadien-3-one through a hot tube. Becauseof the high temperature range, 400? to 750 -C., a heat resistant material such as quartz is used for the tube, Which is ordinarily packed with quartz particles.

Generally, the starting steroid is suspended ina neutral carrier such as high-boiling liquid hydrocarbons, a mixture of such hydrocarbons and tetrahydronaphthalene, or some other neutral liquid capable of] withstanding the high temperature .The reaction is car- Patented Oct. 3, 1961 2 ried out in a nitrogen atmosphere, the pressure of nitrogen being varied to alter the speed with which the mixture is forced through the tube. Generally, the higher the temperature, the faster the pyrolysis and the faster the 5 mixture is passed through the tube. j

The steroids of the present invention are useful as intermediates in the'preparation of 17a,21-dihydroxy-19- nor steroids of the pregnene series from the corresponding IO-methyl'steroids. The 19-nor compounds are useful 10 as anti-inflammatory agents. The use of anti-inflammatory agents in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism and similar conditions is well known; The following flow-sheet represents the process of the present invention wherein the steroid may be substituted 15 in the 6 and/or 16-positions.

Hogan-( in and on: on on The following examples'illustrate in greater detail the process of the present invention.

9 Example I.Preparatin 0f19-n0rhydr0c0rtisone 11B- hydroxy 17,20;20,21 bismethylenedioxy 1,4- pregnadien-3-one (500 mg.) and 50 ml. of light white mineral oil (a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons frompetroleum) are mixed for 15 minutes in a Waring blender and the resulting suspension is added dropwise' (1 drop/ see.) into a heated vertical quartz tube ('8 mm'.- internal diameter) packed with broken quartz particles for a length of 34.5 cm. The tube is heated to 550 C. over 25.5 cm. from the top of the packing and during the addition of the suspension a slow stream of nitrogen is passed through the tube. The cooled effluent is extracted with aqueous potassium hydroxide (5%) and the extract is washed with ether. The washed alkaline extract is acidified (Congo red) with hydrochloric acid (5%) and the solid which separates is extracted into methylene chloride. The methylene chloride extract is washed with water and dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate. The residue obtained by removal of solvent crystallizes from acetone to give 17,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-19-norl,3,5()-pregnatriene-3,1lp-diol as prisms, melting point 310-313" C.

The 17,20;20,2l bismethy-lenedioxy-19-n0r-l,3,5(l0)- prcgnatriene-Lllfl-diol (prepared above) (500 mg), anhydrous potassium carbonate (1 g.), methyl iodide (5 g.) and absolute ethanol ml.) are heated under refluxing conditions for four hours. The filtered reaction mixture is evaporated and the residue is collected with the aid of water. The solid so obtained crystallizes from methanol to give 3-methoxy-l7,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-l9-nor- 1,3,5 (10)-pregnatrien-11fi-ol as needles (360 mg), melting point 198-200 C. which rises to 201-202 C. upon further crystallization.

Lithium wire (700 mg.) is added in small pieces to a stirred solution of 3-methoxy'-17,20;20,2l-bismethylene dioxy-19-nor-l,3,5(10)-pregnatrien-l 15-01 (700 mg.) in liquid ammonia (200 ml.), dioxane (35 ml.), and ethanol (10 ml'.). Fifteen minutes after the addition is complete the lithium has dissolved and the solution is allowed to evaporate to dryness. The product, 3-methoxy-17,20;20, 21 bismethylenedioxy 19 nor 2,5 (10) pregnadien- 11 3-01, is collected by the addition of water followed by filtration. It crystallizes as needles (500 mg.), melting point 139-l70 C., from methanol. This compound (250 mg), acetic acid (12.5 ml.) and water (6.5 ml.) are heated under refluxing conditions for two hours. The mixture is diluted with water and then neutralized with sodium hydrogen carbonate. The product is extracted in ethyl acetate and the extract is washed with water and dried. The gum obtained by evaporation of solvent crystallizes from methanol-ethyl acetate to give 19-norhydrocortisone as needles (110 mg.), melting point 250-252 C. The substantially pure compound has 'a melting point 255-257 C.

Example II.-Preparation of 17,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-19-n0r-1,3,5 (10) ,9(1] -pregnatetraen-3-0l A stirred solution of 11fi-hydroxy-l7,20;20,2l-bismethylenedioxy-l,4-pregnadien-3-one (2.0 g.) in dry pyridine (25 ml.) is treated with N-bromoaeetamide (1.03 g.) in the dark. After 15 minutes, the reaction is cooled in an ice bath and dry sulfur dioxide is bubbled through the solution for a few minutes (until the solution gives a negative starch-iodide test). Water is added and after cooling, the product is filtered and washed with water to give 1.71

ether to the cooled mineral oil eluate gives 2.06 g. of

crude product, melting point 220-240 C. The latter is chromatographed over Florisil (synthetic magnesium silicate) and the product is eluted with methylene chloride. Recrystallization from acetone-petroleum ether gives 0.96 g. of product melting at 253-257 C. The analytical sample melts at 256.5-261 C.

Example III .-Preparation of 6a-methyl-19-n0rhydr0- cortisone The compound, l1,8,17u,21-trihydroxy-6a-methyl-L4- pregnadiene-3,20-dione, (2 g.) in chloroform m1.) is treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid (20 m1.) and formalin (20 ml.) and the mixture is stirred at room temperature for 24 hours. The chloroform layer is separated and is washed with aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate, water and dried. The product, llfl-hydroxy-6tx-methyl- 17,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-1,4-pregnadien 3 one, is obtained by removal of solvent followed by crystallization of the residue from acetone-petroleum ether.

The 11B-hydroxy-6a-methyl-17,20;20,2l-bismethylenedioxy-1,4-pregnadien-3-one is pyrolyzed as in Example I above. The product, 6a-methyl-l7,20;20,21bismethylenedioxy-19-nor-1,3,5 10) -pregnatriene-3,11;3-diol, separates from ethyl acetate-petroleum ether.

The 60: methyl-17,20;20,2l-bisrnethylenedioxy-19-n0rl,3,5(10)-pregnatriene-3,11fl-diol is treated with methyl iodide and anhydrous potassium carbonate as described in Example I. Themethyl ether so obtained is crystallized from aqueous methanol to give 3-methoxy-6u-methyl 17,20;20,21 bismethylenedioxy 19 nor 1,3,5(10)- pregnatrien-l 1 5-01.

A solution of 3-methoxy-6a-methyl-17,20;20,2l-bis methylenedioxy-19-nor-1,3,5 10) -pregnatrien-1 15-01 (700 mg.) inliqnid ammonia-(200mb), dioxane (35 ml.) and ethanol (10 ml.) is treated with lithium wire (700 mg;). When the lithium has dissolved, the solution is evaporated to dryness and the product, 3-methoxy-6u-methyl-17, 20;20,21 bismethylenedioxy 19 nor 2,5 (10) pregnadien-llp-ol is collected with the aid of water and is crystallized from methanol. This product (500 mg), acetic acid (25 ml.) and water (13 ml.) are heated under reflux for two hours. The product, 6a-methyl-l9-norhydrocortisone, is isolated as before'and crystallizes from ethyl acetate-petroleum ether.

The compound, 11B,17u,21-trihydroxy-16u-methyl-1,4-

pregnadiene-3',20-dione, (1 g.) is added to a mixture of chloroform (50' ml.), concentrated hydrochloric acid (10 ml), and formalin (10ml) and the mixture is stirred for 35' hours at room temperature. The product, llfl-hydroxy 16a methyl 17,20;20,21 bismethylenedioxy- 1,4-pregnadien-3-one, is isolated as described in Example I and is crystallized from ethyl acetate-petroleum ether.

A suspension of 11fl-hydroxy-16a-methyl-17,20;20,21- bismetliylenedioxy-l,4-pregnadien-3-one (1 g.) in light white mineral oil ml.) is pyrolyzed as in Example I above. The product, 1Get-methyl-l7,20;20,21-bisrnethylenedioxy 19 nor 1,3,5(10) pregnatriene 3,11 9- diol, is crystallized from acetone-petroleum ether.

The 16a-methyl 17,20;20,2l bismethylenedioxy-19- nor*l,3,5(l0)-pregnatriene-3,1lfi-diol is converted to the methyl ether as described in Example III. It crystallizes from aqueous methanol to give substantially pure 3- methoxy 16a methyl-172030.21bismethylene-dioxy- 19-nor-1,3,5-( 10) -pregnatrien-1 lp-ol.

mosses E By the same procedure described in the previous example, 3-methoxy-16u-methyl-17,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-19-nor-1,3,5( -pregnatrien-l -01 is converted into 1ot-methyl-19-norhydrocortisone. The product crystallizes from aqueous acetone to give a substantially pure product.

Example V.Preparati0n of 1'7a,21-dihydr0xyl6ot-meth'yl-l 9-nor-4-pregnene-3,Z0-di0ne To concentrated hydrochloric acid (10 ml.) and formalin (10 m1.) is. added a solution of l7a,2l-dihydroxy-16a-metl-ryl-l,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (l g.) in chloroform (70 ml.). The mixture is stirred at room temperature for hours and the product is isolated as described in Example I. The 16ot-methyl-17,20;20,21- bismethylenedioxy-l,4-pregnadien-3-one is. crystallized from ethyl acetate-petroleum ether.

A suspension of--16oz-methyl-l7,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-1,4-pregnadien-3-one' in lightmineral oil is pyro- Example VI.Prepardti0n of 17ot,21-dihydr0xy- 19-11or-4-pregnene-3,2ll dione The steroid, 17a,2l-dihydroxy-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (10 g.) in chloroform (400 ml.) is treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid (100 ml.) and formalin 100 ml.) and the mixture is stirred at room temperature.

for 48 hours. The product, 17,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-1,4-pregnadien-3-oneis isolated as described-in Ex-' ample I and crystallized from acetone-petroleum ether.

The l7,20;20,2l-bismethylenedioxy-l,4-pregnadien-3- one is. pyrolyzed at about 550 C. as described in Example I. The product, 17,20;20,2l-bismethylenedioxyl9-nor-1,3,5(10)-pregnatrien-3-ol is crystallizedfrom ethyl acetate-petroleum ether.

Treatment of 17,20;20,2l-bismethylenedioxy-l9-nor- 1,3,5(l0)-pregnatrien-3-ol with methyl iodide and anhydrous potassium carbonate gives 3-methoxy-l7,20;20, 2l=bismethylenedioxy l9 nor-1,3,5 10)-pregnatriene. This compound crystallizes from acetone-petroleum ether.

The 3-methoxy-l7-20;20,2l-bismethylenedioxy-19-nor- 1,3,5 (10)-pregnatriene is reduced with lithium in liquid ammonia and the resulting diene is hydrolyzed with aqueous acetic acid as in Example I to give l7oc,21-dl hydroxy-19-nor-4-pregnene-3,ZO-dione which crystallizes from ethyl acetate.

Example VII.Preparation of 6a,l6u-dimethyl- 19-norhydroc0rtisone The compound, 1113,17a,21-trihydroxy-6oz,16a-dimethyl-1,4-pregnadiene-3,20-dione (1.5 g.) prepared as described in S. African application Number 3230/58 is added to a mixture of chloroform (60 ml.), concentrated hydrochloric acid (15 ml.) and formalin (15 ml.). The mixture is stirred for hours at room temperature. Isolation of the product is carried out as herein-before described and the pure compound, 1lfl-hydl'0Xy-6a,160cdimethyl 17,20;20,21 bismethylenedioxy 1,4-pregnadien-B-one is obtained by crystallization from acetonepetroleum ether.

The pregnadiene prepared immediately above is Pym: lyzed at about 550 C. as described in Example I. The product, 6a,Mot-dimethyl-17,20;20,2-1-bismethylenedioxyl9-nor-1,3,5( 10)-pregnatriene-3,llfidiol is crystallized from equal parts of ethyl acetate-petroleum ether.

Treatment of 6a,16ot-dimethyl-17,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy l9 nor-l,3,5(10)-pregnatrien-3,11;8-diol with methyl iodide under the conditions of the previous examples gives 3-methoxy-6a,1Got-dimethyl-l7,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy l9 nor 1,3,5(10) -pregnatrien-11fl-ol. The compound crystallizes from acetone-petroleum ether.

As in the previous example, 3-methoxy-6a,16a-dimethyl l7,20;20,21 bismethylenedioxy l9-nor-l,3,5(l0)- pregnatrien-llB-ol is treated with lithium in liquid ammonia and the product is hydrolyzed with aqueous acetic acid to give 6a,16a-dimethyl-l9-nor-hydrocortisone which separates from aqueous methanol.

Example VIlI.Preparation of 17a,21-dihydr0xy- 6oc-methyl-1 9-nor-4 -pregnene-3,20-di0ne Concentrated hydrochloric acid (15 ml.) and formalin 25 (15 ml.) is added to a solution of 17w,21-dll1ydI'OXY-60t-' methyl-l,4-pregnacliene-3,ZO-dione (1.5 g.) in chloroform (100 ml.). The mixture is stirred at room temperature for 24 hours and the product is then isolated as in Example 1. The 6a-methyl-17,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-l,4-pregnadiene-3-one is crystallized from methanol.

A suspension of 6u-methyl-17,20;20,2l-bismethylenedioxy-l,4-pregnadien-3-one in light mineral oil is pyrolyzed as in the previous examples. The 6a-methyl-17,20;20,21- bismethylenedioxy-19-nor-l,3,5(10) pregnadien-S-ol so obtained is crystallized from acetone.

The 6u-mcthyl-17,20;20,2l-bismethylenedioxy 19-n0rl,3,5(10)-pregnatrien-3-ol is treated with methyl iodide 4,0. as in Example III to give 3-methoxy-6a-methyl-17,20;20,

21 bismethylenedioxy 19 nor-1,3,5 (10)-pregnatriene which is crystallized from acetone-petroleum ether.

Using the same procedure as in the previous examples, 3-methoxy-6ot-methyl 17,20;20,2l-bismethylene-dioxy-l9-nor-1,3,5(10)-pregnatriene is converted into 170:,

21-dihydroxy-6x-methyl-19-nor 4-pregnene-3,20-dione, the pure product being obtained by crystallization from aquaous methanol. i

dimethyl-19-n0r-4-pregnene-3,20-dione The compound, 17a,21-dihydroxy-6a,16ot-dimethyl-L4- pregnadiene-3,20-dione (5 g.) in chloroform (200 ml.) is treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid (50 ml.) and formalin (50 ml.) and the mixture is stirred at room temperature for 40 hours. The product is isolated as described in the preceding examples. Crystallization from acetone gives pure 6a,16a-dimethyl-l7,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-1,4-pregnadien-3-one.

6u,16u dimethyl 17,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-1,4- pregnadien-3-one is pyrolyzed at 550 C. as in the previous examples to give 60L,l6ot-dllnfithyl-17,20;20,21-bl8- methylenedioxy-19-nor-1,3,5 10)-pregnatrien-3-ol. This compound separates from methanol.

The compound, 3-methoxy-6a,16a-dimethyl-17,20;20, 21 bismethylenedioxy-19-nor-1,3,5 10)-pregnatriene is prepared by treating 6a,16ot-dimethyl-l7,20;20,2l-bismethylenedioxy 19-nor-l,3,5(10)-pregnatrien-3-ol with methyl iodide and anhydrous potassium carbonate as described in Example I. The pure compound is obtained by crystallization from ethyl acetate-petroleum ether.

Treatment of 3-methoxy-6u,l6a-dimethyl-17,20;20,21- bismethylenedioxy 19 nor-l,3,5(10)-pregnatriene with lithium in liquid ammonia followed by acid hydrolysis as 7 in Example I, gives 17,21-dihydroxy-6a,l6o -dimethyl- 19*nor-4-pregnene-3,ZO-dione which crystallizes from acetone-petroleum ether.

We claim:

1. The compound 17,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-19- nor-1,3,5(10),9('11)-pregnatetraen-3-ol.

2. The compound 17,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-19- nor-1,3,5 l)-pregnatriene-3,l lfl-diol.

3. The compound 17 ,20;20,21-bismethy1enedioxy-19- nor-1,3 ,5( 1-0) -pregnatrien-3-01.

4. The compound 6a methyl-17;20;20,21-bismethylenedioXy-19 nor-1,3,5('10) pregnatriene-3-11B diol.

5. The compound 16a-methyl-17,20;20,21-bismethylenedioxy-l 9-nor-1,3 ,5 -pregnatrien-3-ol.

6. The compound 1mat-methyl-17,20;20,21bismethylenedioxy- 1 9-nor-1 ,3 ,5 10) -pregnatriene-3 ,1 lB-diol.

7. The compound 611,160: dimethyl l7,20;20,21'-bi5- methylenedioxy 19 nor 1,3,S(10)-pregnatriene-3-,llB-- diol.

8. The compound 3-methoxy-17,20;20,2l-bismethylenedioxy-19-nor-l,3,5( 10) -pregnatrien-1 -01.

9. The compound 3-methoXy-6u-methyl-17,20;20,21- bismethylenedioxy-l 9-nor 1,3,5 10 -pregnatrien-l 15-01.

10. The compound 3-methoXy-16a-methyl-l7;20;20,21- bismethylenedioxy-l9-nor-1,3,5 10) -pregnatrien-1 119-01.

7 11. The compound 3-methoxy-6a,16u-dimethyl-17;2-0; 20,21 bismethylenedioxy-l9-nor-1,3,5(10) pregnatrien- 115-01.

12. A compound having the formula:

HO(B)-O, and on on on o radicals.

0 13. A compound having the formula:

0-0112 HIC lower alkyl- 0 wherein R and R are members of the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl radicals and --C C is a trivalent radical of the group consisting of wherein R and R are members of the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl radicals and C C is a trivalentradical of the group consisting of How-C Ca; and CH H 0 radicals.

References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,874,173 Hott et a1. Feb. 17, 1959 2,884,418 Sondheimer et a1 Apr. 28, 1959 October 3, 1961 Patent No. 3,002,968

Seymour Bernsijein et a1 It is hereby certified that error appeers'in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below Column 7, lines 31 to 45, the formula should appear as shown below instead of as in the patent:

o---cH Signed and sealed this 19th day of June 1962.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

12. A COMPOUND HAVING THE FORMULA: 